ACT ONE SCENE TWO

“Distaining fortune with his brandish’d steel which smoked with bloody execution” - Captain

“Distaining” - Contemptuous - reckless - foreshadows Macbeth belief in being able to control his fate - disregards morals

Foreshadows Macbeth ignoring the signs of his defeat - strong character - not easily swayed

“Brandished” - violent verb - connotations of being skilful - admired

Links to romanticised bloodshed in the context of war - Macbeth is fighting for his country his actions are righteous - honourable

Ironic - behaves in the same ruthless way - viewed as tyrannical - horrific

Shakespheare - criticising the culture of aggressive masculinity - honourable warfare

Manly trait - admired for his physical power

“Steel” - metaphorical for Macbeth’s false appearance - tough - brave on the outside - weak - traitorous behind closed doors

Links to the motif of a “dagger” in the play - used to commit regicide - feared by it - juxtaposes the interpretation of a brave - skilful figure

Irony - Macbeth is killed by Macduff using a sword for his patriotic actions

“His” - personal pronoun - heightens the sense of M - sword being one

“Bloody” - violence - execution - idea of a swift - purposeful killing

“Smoked” - fire - symbolise danger - rage - foreshadows his later insanity - in Act 3 scene 4 - catalyses more murders

Connotations of hell linking to GCOB - disrupting it - go to hell

“Like valor’s minion” - Captain

Simile - audacious - fearless

“Valor” - courageous in the face of danger - emphasises his herosim

“Valor’s minion” - servant of bravery

“What hath lost noble Macbeth hath won” - Captain

Repetitive structure - sense of inevitability - links to the idea of fate

Dramatic irony - reference to the traitorous Thane of Cawdor - Macbeth will be his replacement

Ironic - Macbeth is far more traitorous

Duncan’s speaking about Macbeth in a kind - uplifting nature - only right if it is reciprocated

Rhyming couplet - reinforces the idea of a new beginning for Macbeth

“Lost” - “Won” - same sentence - foreshadows new effect having a title will Macbeth - lose his humanity - friends

“O valiant cousin worthy gentleman” - Captain

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“Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps”

Ruthless - merciless in battle

Proves the violence he is capable of

Inhumane description - admiration yet appalling

SUMMARY

The captain - King Duncan are praising Macbeth’s bravery - valour during battle in contrast to the traitorous Thane of Cawdor